Railway track switch operating apparatus



June 11, 1940. J. w. LOGAN, JR

RAILWAY TRACK SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Filed Sept; 24, 19:58

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 HIS ATTORNEY June 11, 1940. J. w. LOGAN. JR

RAILYIAI TRACK SWITCH OIERA'IING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 24, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HIS ATTORNEY Fatenteci June 11, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT RAILWAY TRACK swrrcn OPERATING APPARA TUB John W. Logan, Jr., Forest Hills, Pa., assignor to The Union Switch 8: Signal Company, Swissvale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September 24, 1938, Serial No. 231,520

8 Claims. (01. are-ass) 5 a switch actuating shaft wherewith the torque applied to the shaft is proportioned in accordance with the force required to be -exerted by the shaft in operating the switch actuating and switch locking means.

Another object of my invention is the provision of novel and-improved means for reversibly actuating a switch actuating shaft wherewith the power supply element is required to be operated in but one direction.

Another object of my invention is the provision of novel and improved. means for permitting manual operation of the switch operating apparatus without disconnecting the power actuated member from the switch actuating shaft.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the specification progresses.

, I shall'describe one form of apparatus embodying my invention, and shall then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig.1is a top plan view showing one form of a railway track switch operating apparatus embodying my invention, the cover of themechanism being removed and certain of the parts broken away to more clearly illustrate the construction thereof. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the lines 11-11 of Fig. 1. Fig.3 is a sectional view taken on the lines III-III of Fig. 2, showing on an enlarged scale the power actuating element for the switch actuating shaft 6. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the power actuating means and the control apparatus therefor, for the switch actuating apparatus shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the gear wheel 56 forming part of the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 6 is a top 40 view of the clutch member 61 forming part of the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2. 1

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the reference character I designates a casing or housing. the upper end ofwhich is closed by a removable cover 2; which permits convenient access to the interior of the housing. The housing i is formed with a bearing 3 in the bottom thereof, and with a bearing 4 supported by a bracket 5 which is secured to the side walls of the housing. A vertically extending switch actuating shaft 6 is,

journaled in the bearings '3 and 4, and is provided crank pin 8. The crank I and crank pin 8 cooperate with suitable mechanism for actuating and looking a railway switch, which mechanism is not shown in the drawings, and which may, for example, be similar to that shown and covered in United States Letters Patent No. 1,293,290, granted to William Zabel on February 4, 1919. In the patent, the crank 55 and crank pin 58 correspond respectively to the crank 'l and crank is preferably arcuate shaped, and is provided with a fluid operable piston ill affixed to, and rotatable with, switch actuating shaft 6. The fluid operable piston l0 comprises piston rod Illa, one end of 20 which is splined to shaft 6, the other end of which is provided with piston heads Mn and I I1. In the normal position of piston ID, as illustrated in Fig. 3, piston head iln operates within a cylinder I211. disposed in the upper left-hand portion of the chamber 9, as viewed in Fig. 3, by-

pass ports i311 and l3b provided in chamber 9 by-passingpiston arm Illa only in this normal position of the piston. In the reverse position of piston l0, piston head Hr operates within cylinder iZr disposed at the upper right-hand portion of chamber 9, by-pass ports Ma and Nb provided for chamber 9 by-passing piston arm Illa only in this reverse position of the piston. Fluid is admitted to, or withdrawn from, chamber 9 through pipe I511 communicating with cylinder 121i and pipe I51 communicating with cylinder I21.

The operation of the fluid motor is as follows: If fluid under pressure is admitted through pipe i511 to cylinder I212. when the piston I0 is in its normal position, as shown in Fig. 3,.the fluid operates on piston head Iln, forcing the piston head out of cylinder I2n, the piston arm Illa being by-passed by by-passv ports Ma and i312 so that the fluid pressure on either side of the piston arm Illa is equalized. The actuation of piston i0 forces the fluid within chamber 9 out of the chamber through pipe l5r, and also rotates the switch actuating shaft 6. When piston head -I In emerges from cylinder i212, the piston arm Ilia is no longer by-passed by the ports i3a and l3b with the result that the fluid now operates against piston head Mn and piston arm Illa,

thereby increasing the torque exerted by piston in upon shaft 6. When the piston is operated so that piston head Hr enters cylinder I21", the ports Ma and Nb by-pass piston arm Illa with the result that the force exerted by piston Ill upon shaft 6 is decreased, the force now being only that exerted upon piston head iln by the fluid. When the ,pistonreaches the end of its stroke to assume its rever position, the supply of fluid is cut off, as will explained hereinafter, and the operation of mot r P is terminated.

The operation of mot r P from the reverse position of piston Ill back to the normal position of the piston is substantia ly the reverse of the operation just described, a will be readily apparent from an inspection f Fig. 3, and it is thought, therefore, that furth r detailed descriptionis unnecessary.

It should be noted that in the extreme positions of piston III of motor P, the torque exerted upon shaft 6 by piston I0 is considerably lessened, so that at the start and termination of the rotation of shaft- 6, the shaft exerts but little force upon the actuating mechanism for the switch. This feature is desirable, since, in accordance with the usual practice, shaft 6 first unlocks the switch points, then operates the switch points to a new position, and then locks the switch points in the new position, the locking and unlocking of the switch points requiring considerably less force than the operation of the switch points.

. One advantage of apparatus embodying my invention is the provision of novel and improved power actuating means for a switch actuating shaft wherewith the torque applied to the shaft is proportioned in accordance withthe force required to be exerted by the shaft in operating the switch locking and switch actuating means.

The apparatus providing the operating fluid for motor P and. the control apparatus therefor is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4. Referring to Fig. 4, the reference character It! designates a fluid pressure producin pump, here shown as a rotary gear pump operatively connected with an electric motor M. A suitable form of operating fluid, which is stored in a reservoir or sump i9, is drawn by pump l8 through the admission passage of the pump, and is forced through the delivery passage of the pump and through pump delivery pipe 20 to a four-way valve H. The

four-way valve I1 is connected with sump \l9 by a fluid return pipe 2|. At times, valve H is controlled, as will be explained hereinafter, to its left-hand position to connect pump delivery pipe 20 with pipe I511. communicating with cylinder. l2n of motor P, fluid return pipe 2i being connected by valve I! with pipe I51 communicating with cylinder I27 of motor P. At other times, valve i1 iscontrolled to its right-hand position, that is, the position shown in Fig. '4, to

connect pump delivery pipe 20 with pipe l5r,

fluid return pipe 2| being connected by valve I! with pipe I511. "Interposed in the pump delivery pipe 20 is a non-retum checkvalve 22 which permits pump i8 to supply fluid under pressure I51 is a by-pass valve 24, the valve being governed, as will be explained, hereinafter, by the selector mechanism for permitting manual operation of the switch actuating mechanism.

Motor M and valve I! are controlled by an electromagnetic circuit controller J. The circuit controller may 'take different forms and, as here shown (see Fig. 4) is of the type disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,722,364,

' granted July 30, 1929, to Henry S. Young for Railway trafilc controlling apparatus. This controller will be described in connection with the present description only insofar as seems necessary for a complete understanding of my invention.

The circuit controller J consists in its essential elements of a circuit controlling electromagnet K and a neutral magnet G. The circuit controlling electromagnet K comprises a magnet 25 made up of the two windings 25a and 25b and a polarized winding 26 which latter armature 28 to strengthen the permanent magnetic flux. Two circuit controller contacts 29 and 30 and the four-way valve I! are operatively connected with armature 28. It can be seen that when the armature 28 swings to its normal position the contacts 29 and 30 are operated to a right-hand position, as viewed in Fig. 4, to engage, respectively, contacts 3| and 32, andthe four-way valve i1 is operated to its right-hand position, but that when the armature swings to its reverse position, contacts 29 and 30 are operated to a left-hand position, making engagements respectively with contacts 33 and 34, the four-way valve ,I'l also being operated to its lefthand position.

The neutral magnet G controls a pivoted armalture 35, the lower end of which projects into the path of movement of a portion of armature 26 .to prevent movement of armature 28 when neutral magnet G is deenergized. The armature 35 carries two contact fingers 36 and 31, which are insulated from each other in any suitable manner, and which are adapted to close. contacts '3839 and fill-4|, respectively, when the magnet G is energized.

The reference characters and 45 designate movable circuit controller contact members which are controlled, in accordance with usual practice, by the switch actuating shaft 6 acting .through a suitable point detector mechanism,

which is not shown on the drawings since it forms no part of my present. invention, but which may be of the type disclosedin the copending application for. Letters Patent, Serial No. 148,706, filed by William C. McWhirter and Edwin G. Little on June 17 1937. Contact member 44 engagesflxed contact member 46 at all times except when the switch is in its reverse position, and contact member 45 engages fixed contact member at all times except when the switch is in its normal position.

The reference characters 48 and 49 designate circuit controlling contacts governed, as willbe explained hereinafter, by the selector mechanism or permitting manual operation of the switch operating mechanism.

The:reference character E designates a pole changing switch control lever having a normal position N and a reverse position B, it being understood that when lever E is moved to its normal position, the armature 28 of circuit controller J is operated to its normal position by virtue of current of one polarity supplied to electromagnet K but that when lever E is moved to its reverse position, the armature 28 of circuit controller J is operated to its reverse position by virtue of current of the other polarity being supplied to the electromagnet K.

In describing the operation of the control apparatus for motor ,P, I shall assume that the switch is in its normal position, and that the control apparatus is in its normal condition as shown in Fig. 4. I shall now assume that lever E is moved to its reverse position R, with the result that armature 28 of circuit controller J operates to its reverse position, thereby operating the four-way valve H to its reverse position, and completing a reverse circuit for motor M,

'which circuit may be traced from terminal B of a suitable source of current, such as a battery not shown, through bus wire 42, wire 58,

wire .5I, contact 29-33 of controller J, wire 52, contact 46-44 controlled by the point detector mechanism, wire 53, contact 48 controlled by the selector mechanism, the winding of motor M, contact 49 controlled by the selector mechanism,

wire 54 and bus wire 43 to the other terminal C of the source of current. The energization of motor M actuates pump l8, which forces fluid through pipe 28, four-way valve l1, and pipe [511. to cylinder I21; of chamber 8, thereby operating piston in of motor P to its reverse position, switch actuating shaft 6 being rotated with the result that the switch is actuated to its reverse position. When the switch reaches its reverse position, contact 46-44 is opened with the result that motor M is deenergized so that pump iii no longer supplies fluid to motor P, thereby terminating the operation of motor P.

When it is desired to return the switch to its normal positionjlever E is first moved to its normal position with the result that armature 28 of circuit controller J is operated to its nor a1 position, thereby closing contact 29-3115 controller J and operating valve I! to its right-hand position. Motor M is now energized over a normal circuit passing from terminal B through bus .wire 42, wire 50, wire 5!, contact 26-3], wire 55,

contact 41-45 controlled by thepoint detector mechanism,',wire' 53, contact 48 governed by the selector mechanism, the winding of motor M, contact 49 governed by the selector mechanism, wire 54 and bus wire 43 to terminal C. The operation of motor M actuates pump l8, and since normal position, and contact -41 is opened when the switch 'reaches itsrnormal position to open the circuit for motor M withthe result that pump I8 no longer supplies fluid to motor P, thereby terminating theoperation of motor P.

i It should be noted that :reversible operation of motor P is effected solely by virtue of the fourway valve ll, so that pump l6 and motor M are operated in but one direction. One advantage of apparatus embodying my invention is the provision of means for reversibly operating a switch actuating shaft wherewith the actuating power element is required to be operated in but one direction.

Referring once more to Figs. 1 and 2, ab'evel gear 56 (see Fig. 2) is mountedfor rotation coaxially with shaft 6 and is provided on its upper face with a boss which cooperates with a thrust washer 51 to prevent vertical displacement of the bevel gear in an upward direction. Vertical displacement of the bevel gear 56 in the opposite direction is prevented by a bushing 58 which cooperates at its upper end with the underside of the bevel gear and at its lower end with the shoulder 6a formed on shaft 6. The bevel gear 56 meshes with a segmental gear 59 splined to the end of a horizontally extending sleeve 66, which sleeve is rotatably mounted in a ball bearing 6| and in a needle bushing 62 disposed in bearing recesses 63 and 64, respectively,. provided in a bearing support 65. Secured to. the outer end of the sleeve 68 is a hand lever 66 by means of which the sleeve 60 and hence the bevel gear 56 may at times be rotated between two extreme positions.

The bevel gear'56 is adapted to be operatively connected with the shaft 6 by means of a clutch member 61 which is mounted on the shaft 6 for vertical sliding movement but which is constrained to rotate the shaft by means of integral splines 61a (see Fig. 6) which cooperate with corresponding splines 61) formed on the shaft 6'.

As best seen in Fig. 6, the upper end of the clutch member 61 is provided with a plurality of teeth, two of which 68a and 68b in the particular embodiment illustrated are 62 in length and are spaced 53 apart, and the remaining one of which 680 is 47 in length and is spaced 68 from each of the teeth 68a and 68b. The lower end of the bevel gear 56 is likewise provided with a plurality of teeth, two of which 69a and 69b (see Fig. 5) are 65 in length and are spaced 50 apart, and the remaining one of which 69c is 50 in length and is spaced 65 from the other two teeth 63a and 6%. It follows that the teeth 68 on clutch member 61' will fit between the teeth 69 on bevel" the hand lever 66 and the switch occupy corre-,

sponding relative positions.

Of course, the prescribed dimensions of the teeth on the clutch member 61 and the bevel gear 56 are not essential and any other proportioning of the parts can be employed which will permit mating of the gear and the clutch member when and only when the hand lever 66 and the switch occupy corresponding relative positions.

It can be seen from the foregoing that when dinally on the shaft 6 in order to effect the dc sired connection between the bevel 'gear 56 and the shaft 6 by means of a shifting mechanism.

The shifting mechanism may take diflerentforms and as here shown is of the type disclosed in the copending application for Letters Patent,

invention.

The shifting mechanism (see Figs. 1 and 2) comprises in its essential element a shaft 19 provided at one end with a selector lever 1! by means of which the shaft may be at times oscillated and a shifter yoke 12 operatively connected with the inner end of the shaft 19. The shifter yoke 12 is operatively connected with the clutch member 61 by means of a pair of rollers 13 extending into and cooperating with an annular groove 61b formed in the clutch member .for operating the clutch member between its two extreme longitudinal positions in response to movement of the selector lever between its extreme positions. 7

The shaft 19 extends through, and is rotatably mounted in, the sleeve 60, and is provided at its inner end with a rounded pin 14 formed in eccentric relation with respect to the axis of the shaft. The pin 14 cooperates with an elongated slot 12c formed in the right-hand end of the shifter yoke 12, as viewed in Fig. 2, for actuating the yoke. The left-hand end of the shifter yoke 12 is attached to a floating fulcrum block 16, which is pivotally attached to the housing I, and which is biased by means of a spring 11 to a mid position, that is, a position corresponding to a mid position of the clutch member 61 wherein the bevel gear 56 is disconnected from the shaft 6.

The operation of the shifting mechanism is as follows: Normally, the selector lever 1| occupies the extreme position in which it is shown in the drawings, which is the position for motor operation, and under these conditions the pin 14 is at its lowest point in the path of its movement. With the pin in this position, the shifter yoke v12 and the clutch member 61 are in their extreme lowermost positions so that bevel gear 56 is disconnected from the shaft 6. In order to connect bevel gear 56 to shaft 6, and" thereby permit manual operation of the switch, the selector lever 1| is rotated through an angle of approximately 210 from the position shown, thereby rotating the pin 14 through a corresponding angle. This rotation of pin 14 rotates the shifter yoke 12 and thereby causes the clutch member 61 to move upward movement of the clutchmember, thereby causing the teeth on the clutch member to mesh with the teeth of the bevel gear 56, and thereby permitting manual operation of the switch in the manner previously described.

When it is desired to restore the apparatus to condition for operation by the motor, the selector lever H is restored to its normal position in which it is shown in the drawings. The operation of the apparatus under these'conditions is the reverse of that just described, as will be readily understood from an inspection of the drawings without further detailed, explanation.

The selector lever 1| also provides means, pre viously referred to, for automatically rendering the fluid pressure motor P and the power element, motor M, formotor P ineffective to operate the switch whenever the selector lever is moved away from the motor operating position. As here shown, the means for controlling by-pass valve 24, whereby motor P is rendered ineffective to actuate shaft 6, comprises a crank arm 88 operatively connected with the by-pass valve 24 by means of a pin 9|, the crank arm 98 being secured to a rockshaft 82., The rockshaft 82 extends transversely of the switch machine (see Fig. 1), and is journaled in suitable lugs formed in the'bearing plate 83, and is provided on one end with an arm 84 provided with a cam follower 84a which cooperates with a cam 85. The cam 85 is journaled on the hub of segmental gear 59 and has formed integral therewith a gear wheel 81 which meshes with a pinion 88 mounted rotated away from the position shown, the rotation of the lever will act through shaft 10, gear wheel 92, pinion 9i, shaft 89, pinion 88, and gear 81 to causecam 85 to rotate in unison with the selector lever, and as soon as the cam has been rotated through a relatively small angle,

' the high portion of the cam will move into enupwardly on shaft 6. When the clutch member is moved upwar'dly, under these conditions, if

the position of the switch and the hand lever 66 correspond, so that the teeth 68 of the clutch member align with the spaces between the teeth I clutch member 61 is moved upwardly, the teeth- 69 on the bevel gear 56, the clutch member will .be moved to its extreme upper position in which gagement with the cam follower 84a. This will cause the cam follower, and hence the cam arm 84, to rotate and hence act through the rockshaft 82, the crank arm 89 and the pin 8|, to open the valve 24. The valve will then be held in its opened positionuntil the selector lever is subsequently restored to the position shown. Valve 24 in itsopened position by-passes the piston III of motor P, thereby rendering motor P ineffective to operate the switch actuating shaft, and also 7 permitting piston I 0 of motor P to rotate freely the teeth on the clutch member and the teeth in accordance with a rotationof the switch actuating shaft. It can be seen, therefore, that man- I ual operation of the switch may be effected without disconnecting the fluid operable piston from however, the position of the switch and the hand lever 66 do not correspond when the lever 1| is rotated'to the hand throw position, so that when of'the clutch member 61 do not mesh with the teeth of bevel gear 56, the spring 11 provided for the fulcrum block 16 is compressed. It can be seen, therefore, that'under this latter condition, when the hand lever 66 is moved to a position corresponding to the position of the switch, the energy stored in the spring 11 will complete the the switch actuating shaft.

Themeans for rendering inoperative the pow-' erelement, motor M, for the switch mechanism comprises a crank arm 99 secured to one end of.

99 connected with contacts 49 and 49 interposed,

as was explained hereinbefore, in the motor circuit for motor M. The other end of rockshaft 94 is provided with a. crank arm 96 connected aaoaeis lever is moved fromits motor position, the con tacts remaining open until the selector lever is returned to its motor position.

It is apparent from the foregoing that manual operation of the switch mechanism may be effected without disconnecting piston ii] of motor P from the switch actuating shaft 6. It is further apparent that, when the switch mechanism is conditioned for hand operation, control of the power actuating element, motor M, for the switch actuating shaft cannot be established. One advantage of apparatus embodying my invention is the provision of novel and improved means permitting manual operation of a switch actuating shaft without requiring disconnection of the Although I have herein shown and described only one form of railway track switch operating apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. Railway track switch operating apparatus. comprising a rotatable shaft adapted to be operatively connected with the switch, a fluid pressure motor having an arcuate shaped fluid chamber provided at one end with a first cylinder and at the other end with a second cylinder, a fluid operable pistonarm operating within said chamber and amxed to said shaftfor rotation therewith, said piston arm being provided at its outer end with a first piston head cooperating with said first cylinder and with a second piston .rotatable shaft for rotating said shaft, a first piston head provided at the outer end of said piston for cooperating with said first cylinder, a second piston head provided on the outer end of said piston for cooperating with said secondcylinder, and means disposed within said chamber eifective when said first pistonhead operates within said first cylinder or when said second piston head operates within'said second cylinder for reducing the torque exerted upon said shaft ,by said piston.

3. A fluid pressure motor comprising an arcuate shaped fluid chamber provided at one end with a first cylinder and at the'other end with a second cylinder, 9. fluid operable piston operating within said chamber and afilxed to a rotatable shaft for rotating said shaft, a first piston head provided at the outer end of said piston for cooperating with said first cylinder, a

second piston head provided at the outer end of said piston for cooperating with said second cylinder, and by-pass ports disposed within said fluid chamber for by-passing the fluid around said piston whenever said first piston head operates within said first cylinder or whenever said second piston head operates Within said second cylinder.

4. A fluid pressure motor comprising, in combination, an arcuate shaped fluid chamber, said chamber having two cylinders one disposed at each end of said chamber, a rotatable shaft, a piston arm secured to said shaft and rotatable about the axis of said shaft between two extreme angular positions, a piston head carried by said piston arm, 'said head cooperating with one or the other of said two cylinders according as said piston arm is in its respective one or another of said two extreme positions, and means for supplying fluid to said chamber eifective whenever said piston head cooperates with said cylinders for exerting fluid pressure only upon said head and effective at other times to exert fluid pressure upon both said piston head and said piston arm.

5. Railway track switch operating apparatus comprising a rotatable shaft adapted to be operatively connected with the switch, and fluid pressure responsive motor means for rotating said shaft between two extreme angular positions, said motormeans having a fluid operable piston which is aflixed to said shaft and which rotates about the axis of said shaft to thereby rotate said shaft, and said motor means being characterized by the fact that the force exerted by the operating fluid upon said piston is proportioned in accordance with the torque required to be exerted by said motor means upon said shaft.

6. Railway track switch operating apparatus comprising a rotatable shaft adapted to be operatively connected with the switch, a fluid pressure motor comprising a chamber containing a reciprocable piston, said piston being aflixed tosaid shaft and rotatable about the axis of said shaft to thereby rotate said shaft, and means provided in said chamber and controlled by the position of said piston in said-chamber for controlling the force exerted bythe operating fluid upon said piston, whereby said piston exerts different torques upon said shaft at different positions of said piston in said chamber.

7. In a railway'track switch operating mechanism of the class. having a rotatable shaft adapted to be operatively connected with the switch and wherein the shaft is operatively connected to or disconnected from manual operating means" according as a selector mechanism is in its respective manual or power operating position, the combination with said rotatable shaft of fluid pressure responsive motor means comprising a chamber containing a reciprocable pisoperating mechanism of the class having a rotatable shaft adapted to be operatively connected with the switch and wherein the shaft is conditioned for rotation by power operating means or by manual operating means according as a selector mechanism is in its power or its manual operating position, the combination with said rotatable shaft of a fluid operable piston aflixed to and rotatable about said shaft'and operating in a chamber to which operating fluid is at times to the position of said piston in the chamber for varying the force exerted by the operating fluid .on said piston, and means controlled by said selector mechanism when in its manual operating position for by-passing fluid in said chamber around said piston for permitting manual opera,

tion of said shaft. Y

JOHN W. LOGAN, JR. 

